DIY Soundproofing Ideas

There are so many times at home when you just need serenity. But sadly this rarely happens. If it’s not your 10-year-old practicing the saxophone in the basement then it’s your son doing that noisy school project in the garage. And that’s not all. You still need to deal with noise coming from the outside. Well, if you have tried various solutions to soundproof your room from all this noise to no avail, then we may have a few ideas for you. These are all simple DIY projects that will help you soundproof your home in no time.

Extra Soundproofed Material

It takes some time and effort, but reduces noise pollution. Source: The Spruce

The purpose of drywall is to help partition rooms at home. Drywall is now one of the most popular materials used for interior walls and it can also help soundproof various parts of your home. However, you will need to some time for this project. The additional layers of drywall will need to be repainted to rhyme with the other paint works on the wall. In addition to this, electrical wiring and electrical outlets will also need to be repositioned. Despite all this, it’s one of the most effective soundproofing options.

Caulk Sandwich

Caulk can also be a great option to deafen the sounds coming from the outside. In this approach, you will need two layers of drywall separated from each other by an inch or so. This hollow space is then filled with thick acoustical caulk. The caulk is cheap so don’t worry about the cost of the project. It’s a very effective material in deadening vibrations. This then leads to a significant noise reduction.

Plugging Sound Leaks

Think of sound as water. It has to go through places before it reaches you. Any small leak either on the wall or underneath the door provides an opening for sound waves to pass. You may need to fix these leaks soon. In order to stop the leaks, consider adding acoustical caulk around a number of areas including ceiling fixtures, receptacle boxes, switch boxes, and door casings.

Silencing the Ducts

Air conditioning ducts may also make some annoying noises as they move air around the home. Lucky for you, there are established ways to silence this noise. The first thing you should do is to add thermal insulation. This will ensure the ducts are not just energy efficient but also soundproof. The thermal insulators are sold as wraps. The only thing you need to do here is to wrap them around the ducts and you’re done.

Use Acoustical Panels

Of course, you can't go wrong with the good old fashioned soundproofing foam. Source: HGTV

Acoustic panels can be used to absorb sounds before they bounce off the ceilings and the walls at home. The panels are mostly used to improve sound within a room, especially in home theatres. However, they will also limit the transmission of sound through walls. This means that any sound coming from the outside will not enter while the sound inside the room will not leave. The panels are made using expanded polypropylene and you can buy them in a variety of sizes and thickness. There are some designs too that come custom made. They simply turn your sound blocking panel into a masterpiece wall art.

Quieting Ambient Noise

You can also add soft items in rooms to help quiet the ambiance. Rugs, potted plants, and drapes may help reduce vibrations for a quieter room. However, this solution is often used with other more effective soundproofing solutions. The great thing is that these items will also be contributing to the overall décor of your rooms.

Keeping your rooms quiet is not that hard. There are many practical solutions that can help you with this. Although these are all projects that will take some time to complete, in the end you will finally get the chance to enjoy the peace and quiet that you’ve been looking for.